Hillcrest students get organized for 5K race

The Hillcrest JROTC will sponsor the Patriot 5K, which starts Saturday morning at Shelton State Community College.

Jimmy Boone

This weekend they won't be marching.

The Hillcrest JROTC will sponsor the Patriot 5-kilometer run and One Mile run/walk on Saturday on the campus of Shelton State Community College.

"This is our second year to hold this run," said Col. Bob Glick, sponsor of the JROTC program. "Our kids run in these races all year long, and it is a lot of fun for us to get to run one.

"The students have been involved in every aspect of planning this event. They have gone out and gathered sponsors, gathered door prizes, done registration and even checked out the race course."

The students will benefit from the funds raised, so Glick made sure that they were responsible for everything that had to be done.

"We will use the funds that are raised to pay for JROTC trips as well as entry fees into events and special team equipment," Glick said. "The kids run in almost every race that is held in this area, so they see this as a way to give back to the other runners."

The course is one that was very popular with runners last year, when Peter Coleman turned in a winning time of 17:20 in the 5K race.

"Everybody enjoyed this course because it is a very flat course," said Glick who also runs in most of the local races. "We expect a lot of runners to have personal bests because of this course."

Glick said that he expects Coleman to have a lot of competition this year.

"We have runners from Anniston and Birmingham coming down this year," Glick said. "We also have a lot of runners who are preparing to run in the Mercedes Marathon who are running some very good times."

The course runs on the road that surrounds the college and does not have any hills.

"The course begins at the back of the campus near the gym and goes around the school and out the front gate," Glick said. "Then it comes back and circles around the school until it returns back to the beginning."

The one-mile run or walk is for those who are not prepared to run the 3.2 miles in the 5K event.

"We want to encourage people to get involved in exercise, whether they run or walk," Glick said. "We have over a dozen parents who are going to walk the mile, and we hope others will get involved too."

Trophies will be available to the top finishers in age groups from 10-and-younger to 60-and-older over 60. The top male and female competitors will receive awards.

"We also will have a lot of special awards for the youngest and oldest," Glick said. "We also are going to have awards for the one who travels the longest distance and for the largest organization represented."

Glick said all racers will receive a long-sleeved t-shirt and will be eligible to win one of the 65 door prizes, including a 25-inch TV.

Registration is scheduled to begin at 7:30 Saturday morning at a cost of $15.